Memorandum device or the like



y 194% v G. c. BRANT, JR ,247,599;

MEMORANDUM DEVICE OR THE LIKE Filed June 1, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1939 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Eff/y 7- gram i. Clark fir'anci.

G C. BRANT, JR

MEMORANDUM DEVICE OR THE LIKE Filed June 1 Juiy l, 1941.

Patented July 1, 194-1 NETE it 18 Claims.

This invention relates to memorandum or data devices and has particular reference to an arrangement wherein replaceable rolls of flexible material such as strip paper or the like constitute the writing or data surface.

An object of the invention is to so construct and arrange a holder for rolled strip material that the assembly, when in use, may be compacted to over-all dimensions scarcely larger than two adjacent rolls, but may be easily opened or extended to provide a ready writing surface or expose data.

Another object of the invention is to so associate a roll of strip material with a casing that the strip may be readily moved across a writing or supporting surface in either direction regardless of whether the casing is in closed or extended position. An important feature resides in the ease and rapidity with which the strip may be so moved and the absence of any need for laboriously winding and unwinding, step by step, the spindles upon which the strip is rolled.

Still another object is to associate with the assembly a supporting surface over which the material extends in such manner that it is automatically extended to expose a portion thereof when desired, but retracts into the casing when not in use.

further object resides in providing means insuring smooth winding of the strip in either direction and preventing jamming of any portion thereof during either the winding action or compacting and extending the casing. An important feature in connection with this phase of the invention resides in so constructing and arranging a single element of the assembly that it performs the above function while at the same time serving as a supporting surface when the device is in extended or open position.

A still further object of the invention is to incorporate means with the casing assembly whereby the device may be positively held automatically in extended or open position, an important feature with reference to this phase residing in so arranging such means that it functions as a rigid, and additional, support for the exposed surface of the flexible material.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembly in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 illustrates a particular use of the device;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank used to form one of the casing members in which the rolls are journaled;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of one form of roll;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the assembly in closed position;

Fig. 7 is a similar partial section therethrough illustrating the open position;

Fig. 8 is a section along 38 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a section through one of the casing members illustrating a modified form of roll, and

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a modified form of the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral Ill represents identical oppositely disposed casing members having bearings l2 in opposite side walls in which strip winding rolls, broadly indicated by the numeral [4, are rotatably journaled.

A convenient construction for the casing members I0 is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4, which represents a blank comprising a substantially rectangular portion it provided with laterally disposed ears l8 and 2%] extending from one longitudinal edge thereof. Ears 22 and 24 extend laterally from the opposite longitudinal edge thereof, each car being provided with an arcuate inner edge 28, a bearing i2, and an arcuate bead 28 embossed in the metal and extending through substantially a quadrant in concentric relation to arcuate edge 26.

To form the casing from the blank illustrated, ears 22 and 24 are folded into a plane perpendicular to that of the body portion it of the blank, said body portion is rolled around the arcuate edge 26 of the ears and welded or soldered thereto, and ears [8 and 2t are folded over into overlapping relation in a plane substantially parallel to that of the main body portion it and welded or soldered to form a slot coextensive with the width of the casing. Of course it is to be understood that this is simply a convenient form of casing member to serve the desired purpose and that the particular form of casing member used constitutes no part of the present invention.

, Each winding roll i l comprises a spindle 3% having guide discs 32 and 34 fixedly associated with each end thereof, The outer periphery of each guide disc is preferably knurled for a purpose to be more clearly brought out hereinafter. The ends of the spindle, or the outer face of each guide disc, are provided with supporting means as indicated at 36 adapted to be journaled in the bearings l2 in the side walls of each casing member.

For illustrative purposes I have shown a paper strip 3'! wound on such a winding roll and journaled in one of the casing members It], the free end of the paper strip being connected in suitable fashion to the spindle of the oppositely disposed winding roll journaled in the other casing member, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6.

An important feature of the invention resides in the use of a spring member 38 having an inherent tendency to coil. While the inherent tendency to coil is an important functional characteristic of this member, it is otherwise immaterial how the member is made 'or of what it consists. The member may be a thin gauge strip steel coil spring or it might be a strip of Celluloid or other flexible material so treated previously as to incorporate in it the characteristic of resiliency which is fundamentally responsible for an inherent tendency to coil.

In-a preferred form this flexible member is of a width substantially equal to that of the casing and slidably positioned through slots 49 formed'by ears [8 and 29 of theblank from which the casing members Ill are constructed. While there is no specific limit as to the length of the spring member, it approximates twice the circumference of guide discs 32 and 34 in the embodiment illustrated. The length of spring member 38 controls the extent to which the casing members it, and consequently the paper rolls therein, may be moved apart to provide an exposed surface of paper.

The tendency of the flexible or spring member 38 to coil about the guide discs permits rapid and effortless movement of the casing members from open to closed position. It should, of course, be understood that such member need not have been preformed into a resilient coil prior to installation in the assembly, but that confinement within thecasing members after installation may impart to it 'a tendency to coil which becomes an inherent characteristic of the member as installed. V

In Fig. 6 the casing is in closed position. In the form illustrated a single spring member of sufficient width to overlie oppositely disposed guide discs 32 and 34 is shown. The tendency of the spring member to coil exerts a constant pull tending to urge the casing members together 7 and, as the spring member coils about the outer periphery of knurled guide discs 32 and 34, a

are moved from open to closedposition, the guide discs and the spindles fixedly associated therewith will rotate in opposite directions to wind up the paper on the respective spindles;

While a preferred length, measured in terms of the circumference of the guide discs, has been suggested'herein, it will be apparent that spring member 38 may be longer, thus providing a longer or more extended supportingsurface when the casing members are drawn apart to the full limit permitted by the length of the spring member.

Too rapid rotation of the. spindles during un-.

winding may be prevented by exerting a slight pressure on the side Walls of casings Ii), thus increasing the normal frictional resistance of-.- fered to rotation of the spindles in their bearings. When the casing members are permitted to move toward one another during closing move ment, the longer spring will simply coil further around the guide discs at the end of the spindles into concentric overlapping relation with itself. The strip during such action remains interleaved with the overlapped portions of the spring member until it passes beyond the end of said spring member, wherever that may be, whereupon it passesinwardly to the paper roll mounted on the spindles.

The inner face of each side wall of each casing member is provided with an inwardly projecting embossed bead 28, as hitherto described, which functions as a guide for the spring memher as it moves toward or away from slots 40 during rotary movement of the guide discs. of course it must be understood that the strip falls in between the guide discs associated with each spindle While the spring member rides over the peripheral surface of said discs, as aforesaid.

Each end of the spring member 38 is provided with stop means adapted to cooperate with the guide means or slot 49 through which the spring member and paper extend to limit the extension of the casing members from one another and prevent the spring member from being withdrawn from either casing member. In the form illustrated these stop means are shown as hook portions 42 which engage one wall of slot 40, thus precluding further removal. of the spring member from the casing. The hook portions 42 cooperate with the knurled periphery of the guide discs during coiling movement of spring mem ber 38 to form a positive connection between the a spring member and the spindles. This facilitates positive rotation of the spindles in their bearings during closing movement.

In order to insure substantially equal rotation of each roll during compacting or closing movement of the casing memberaspring member 38 is provided with stop means disposed substantially centrally of its length and adapted to cooperate with guide means or slot 40 through which the member extends. In the form illustrated herein such stop means comprises a pro by abutment of stop member 44 against a wall 7 of guide slot 40.

The mechanism as hitherto described, without 7 more, is useful as a memorandum device for after-dinner speaking, lecturing, etc., in that when extended the casing members can be readily held apart by inserting the palm of the hand under the spring member 38 and between the inside faces of the casing members. This particular use of the device is illustrated clearly'in Fig. 3. It will be apparent that after the spring member 38 has passed off the periphery of the guide discs, further rotation of the discs, or

either of them, will, pull the stripover spring member 38, winding the same from onespindle to the other without interference of any kind from the spring member itself. An important feature resides in the fact that, in the use illusrated in Fig. 3 as in others, the spring member 38 functions as a supporting surface for the strip 31. As illustrated in Fig. 3 one of the guide discs may be easily rotated by the thumb when the device is held in the palm of the hand, thus exposition to view successively different data previously placed on the strip. Tangs t5 and d'l may be struck downwardly from the center of the body of spring member 38, adjacent the ends thereof and extending toward the ends respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 3. These cooperate with the edges of slots 40 to form a stop when casing members are fully extended, precluding the spring members tendency to coil from causing the ends thereof to slide back into the casing and around the guide discs. During extension these tangs cam under the Walls of slots 4:), but they must be flattened into the plane of the spring member to permit closing from the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

The invention also contemplates an extensible mechanism for connecting the two casing members H3 so that the same may be held rigidly in open position upon any supporting surface and used like any other memorandum device. Another contemplated use for which this en bodiment is especially adapted resides in housing an extensible rolled map, any part of which may readily be positioned over the supporting surface for reference purposes and to permit not ing data on the map itself. Such mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 6-8 and may comprise a series of telescoping friction tubes broadly illusrated by the numeral 46. The inner or smallest tube is connected to one side wall of one casing member and the largest or outermost tube is connected to the corresponding side wall of the other casing member, as illustrated. The number of telescoping units of which the extensible connection is composed depends entirely upon the extent to which the length of spring member 38 permits the casing members to be drawn apart. By Virtue of the frictional engagement of one telescoping unit with the next adjacent unit the casing members will remain in any relative position to which they may be extended within the limit of movement. It is to be understood that an extensible connection of this sort is preferably placed on each side of the composite unit and the preferred form is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, wherein the extension members are attached to the inside of the casing side walls.

This arrangement provides a rigid support positioned beneath spring member 38 and extending throughout the exposed length thereof when the casing is open, thereby providing more rigid support for the surface than would otherwise be obtainable.

A somewhat modified form of roll is illustrated in Fig. 9 wherein one guide disc 48 of each roll is permanently journaled in a side wall of casing 10. On the inner face of disc 43 is a non-circular recess 58 adapted to receive the ends of bifurcations 52 and 5 1 which compose the spindle unit. Thus relative rotation between the spindle and disc 48 is precluded. The oppositely disposed guide disc 56 of each paper roll of this type is integral with or permanently secured to the composite spindle and journaled as indicated at 60 in the other side Wall of casing ii! in the same manner as has hitherto been described. This variation in form is primarily to facilitate removal and insertion of rolls upon the spindle. It will be apparent that to reload the roll illustrated in Fig. 9 it is necessary only to spring one side wall of casing Ill and withdraw the spindle from the recess in fixed guide disc 38. A new roll is slipped over the composite spindle and the same is positioned in the casing in reverse order to the steps just described in connection with removal of the spindle.

It will be understood that, when the casing members are extended and held apart by extensible connection members 46, the strip may be rolled and unrolled simply by rolling the assembly along its supporting surface to thereby rotate the guide discs and the strip supporting spindles. Where extensible connection members are used, there is no particular reason for tangs .5 and 4?.

The extensible connection broadly indicated by the numeral 46 comprising tubular telescoping units is illustrative only of the concept involved. Obviously it would be practical to provide a toggle between the corresponding side walls of the casing, or between portions of the casing other than the side walls as illustrated. It should be further understood that the invention is susceptible of Various uses, dependent upon the strip or roll mounted by the housing or bearing members. Aside from writing surfaces of various kinds, both permanent and eradicable, rolled maps or data of any sort may be used. Materials other than paper are clearly feasible and may be mounted to roll and unroll about the spindles.

While I have illustrated herein a preferred embodiment of my memorandum device assembly, various modifications lying within the scope of the inventive concept will be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that reason I wish to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective Winding roll, and stop means at each end of the spring member cooperable with the respective guide means for limiting the movement of said bearing members away from one another.

2. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and extensible means connecting said bearing members for retaining them in extended relation against the pull of said spring member and limiting the movement thereof away from one another.

3. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, stop means at each end of the spring member cooperable with therespective guide means for limiting the movement of said bearing members away from one another, and extensible means connecting said bearing members for retaining them in extended relation against the pull of said spring member.

4. Mechanism of the class described ccmpris ing, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and extensible means connecting said bearing members for retaining them in extended relation against the pull of said spring member and limit ing the movement thereof away from one another, said extensible means comprising a plurality of telescoping tubes.

5. Mechanism'of the classrdescribed comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendencyto' coil extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and stop means at substantially the center of said spring member cooperable with thev respective guide means for limiting the coiling movement of each end of the spring member about the means for limiting the coiling movement of each end of the spring member about the guide discs of each winding roll, and extensible means connecting said bearing members for retaining them in extended relation against the pull of said spring member and limiting the movement thereof away from one another.

'7. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly assomember cooperable with the respective guide ciated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means'on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency tocoil extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of eachrespective winding roll, and extensible means positioned under said spring member and connecting said bearing members for retaining them in extended relation against the pull of said spring'member and limiting the movement thereof away from one another.

8. Mechanism of the class described compris-, ing, in combination, a pair of oppositelydisposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each 'including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said guide means and, adapted to'coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and extensible means positioned under said spring member and connecting said bearing members for retaining them in extended relation against the pull of said spring member and limiting the movement thereof away from one another, said extensible means comprising a plurality of frictionally engaging members. 7

9. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip Winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to cull extending througheach said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respectivewinding roll, and stop means at each end of the spring member and at substantially the center thereof cooperable with the respective guide means for limiting the movement of said bearing members away from one another and limitinglthe coiling movement of each end ofthe spring member about the guide discs of each winding roll.

10. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding roll housing members having bearings therein, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedlyassociated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearings, guide means on each housing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding .r0l1,.and stop means at each end of the spring member cooperable with the respective guide means for limiting the movement of said housing members away from one another.

11. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed housing members having bearings therein, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearings, guide means on each housing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, said guide means comprising a slot extending across an edge of the housing substantially the width of a winding roll, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said slot and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and stop means at each end of the spring member cooperable with the respective slots for limiting the movement of said housing members away from one another.

12. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed housing members having bearings therein, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearings, guide means on each housing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, said guide means comprising a slot extending across an edge of the housing substantially the width of a Winding roll, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said slot and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding'roll, and stop means at eachend of the spring member and at the center thereof 'cooperable with the respective slots for limiting the movement of said housing members away from and towards one another.

13. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed housing members having bearings therein, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearings, guide means on each housing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, said guide means comprising a slot extending across an edge of the housing substantially the width of a winding roll, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said slot and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and stop means at each end of the spring member cooperable with the respective slots for limiting the movement of said housing members away from one another, said stop means comprising a deformed portion at the end of the spring incapable of passing through its respective slot.

14. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed housing members having bearings therein, winding rolls, each including a spindle and peripherally knurled guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearings, guide means on each housing member comprising a slot at the edge thereof substantially coextensive with the length of a winding roll and adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a spring member having an inherent tendency to coil extending through each said slot and adapted to coil about the knurled periphery of the guide discs of each respective Winding roll, and stop means at each end of the spring member cooperable with the respective guide means for limiting the movement of said bearing members away from one another.

15. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a member extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and stop means at each end of the member cooperable with the respective guide means for limiting the movement of said bearing members away from one another.

16. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a member extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and extensible means connecting said bearing members for retaining them in extended relation.

17. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding roll housing members having bearings therein, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearings, guide means on each housing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a member extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil about the guide discs of each respective winding roll, and stop means at each end of the member cooperable with the respective guide means for limiting the movement of said housing members away from one another.

18. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing members, strip winding rolls, each including a spindle and guide discs fixedly associated with the ends thereof, rotatably journaled in said bearing members, guide means on each bearing member adjacent the periphery of the spindle guide discs, a member extending through each said guide means and adapted to coil around the spindles of each respective winding roll, and stop means at each end of the member cooperable with the respective guide means for limiting the movement of said bearing members away from one another.

G. CLARK BRANT, JR. 

